Rep. Al Green, Texas Democrat, said he’ll bring articles of impeachment against President Trump on Tuesday following U.S. strikes on Iran that crushed its capability to make a nuke.
Mr. Green said Mr. Trump disregarded the separation of powers by ordering the bombing over the weekend of Iran’s Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan nuclear facilities.
Mr. Green’s announcement follows widespread criticism from Democrats that the president didn’t seek approval from Congress for the strikes, although past Democratic presidents, including Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, conducted military strikes overseas without consulting with House and Senate lawmakers.
“I believe that if we do not take immediate action, this authoritarian president will not only devolve the country into authoritarianism. I believe he is a would-be dictator who would become a dictator. So I today announce that later today, I will bring these articles of impeachment to the floor, and I will call for a vote,” Mr. Green announced in a House floor speech.
The lawmaker is a longtime and staunch Trump opponent.
He filed impeachment articles during Mr. Trump’s first term, and when the president addressed a joint session of Congress this year, Mr. Green entered the well of the House and disrupted the speech, telling Mr. Trump “you have no mandate” to cut Medicaid while shaking a cane at him.
Mr. Green was removed by House security staff.
Democrats have steered clear of forcing impeachment votes on Mr. Trump since he took office in January.
They impeached him twice during his first term, in 2019 and 2021, under Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the Californian who has since stepped down from leadership.
In April, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, New York Democrat, tamped down an attempt to force an impeachment vote by Rep. Shri Thanedar, Michigan Democrat.
Mr. Trump ordered the strikes to end Iran’s ability to produce a nuclear bomb, which he believed was just weeks away.
He announced a ceasefire deal Monday between Iran and Israel, which began bombing Iran’s military sites on June 13.
• Susan Ferrechio can be reached at sferrechio@washingtontimes.com.